Ad Categories: City Life

Today the Tribune reported that the Teachers Retirement System, the pension fund that encompasses the state’s public school teachers outside of Chicago, is facing its “deepest financial hole in 20 years.” But when it comes to pensions, there’s no simple measure for “deep” and no good definition of “hole.” Here’s a look at the TRS and its long history of crisis.

Practically any mention of bikes versus cars on the internet incites a flamewar. It’s a curious phenomenon, particularly given the minor threat bikes pose to cars. Nonetheless, I’m convinced that drivers are more afraid of bicyclists than vice versa.

A prehistory of Chicago hipsters, in which we meet Harry “The Hipster” Gibson and Lord Buckley, discuss the important difference between “beat” and “beatnik,” and scare the cool kids away from our less-than-fair city with Aristotle and crappy weather.

NPR is the latest outlet to focus on “what some call an epidemic of youth violence in Chicago.” It’s likely to be an issue as Rahm Emanuel selects new heads for CPS and the CPD. But research suggests that youth violence is as much a matter of public health as anything else.

Compared to our Great Lakes neighbors, things have been pretty quiet in city and state politics, probably because Daley’s on his way out and power didn’t shift too much after the midterms. But our politics will heat up with the weather.